Children and their parents listen to Marianne Pridemore, the children's librarian, talk about shapes during children's storytime at the Morgan Hill Library.
Morgan Hill - A campaign to raise money for artwork and equipment for the new Morgan Hill library recently got a big push from three big-hearted donors.
The contributors chipped in $10,000 apiece - for a total of $30,000 - to the Friends of the Morgan Hill Library's Beyond Books Campaign, a grassroots effort seeking to raise $180,000 to enhance the new library's cultural appeal.
With the recent donations, Friends of the Library has raised $100,000, according to the group's president Carol O'Hare.
"I'm thrilled at the support we've been getting," O'Hare said. "Everybody loves the library. This has been talked about for 15 years. We're finally getting a new building."
A community group and two local residents are responsible for the large donations.
Las Madres of Morgan Hill, a non-profit support group for parents of young children who work to improve their education, has made its $10,000 contribution with money from fundraising events during the last three years. The organization has earmarked its donation for the children's area of the new library, which will include study tables, a toddler area and 16 computers. A plaque will be placed in that section recognizing the Las Madres donation.
"My kids and I love going to the library ... I think it's a great cause," said Stephanie Miller, a Las Madres member from Morgan Hill with two boys, ages 5 and 2. "I've been going to the library for umpteen years. It's an integral part of our lives here in Morgan Hill."
The other big donations came from avid local library users who asked to remain anonymous.
"We are regular users of the library and have found in our experience it's Morgan Hill's most valuable asset," said one of the donors, whose gift will pay for a multi-media video projector, reading equipment for the visually impaired and a portable puppet stage. "It's a treasure chest of knowledge and information."
The other philanthropist is a library staff member who's lived in Morgan Hill for many years and feels the library serves the community in many ways.
"It's a place of leisure for older people and a public facility that can be used for the enjoyment of all," the staff member said. "It goes beyond age, beyond interest. It's got everything ... and it's free."
Morgan Hill's new 28,000-square-foot library is under construction next to the existing one on Peak Avenue. The Morgan Hill Redevelopment Agency is paying for the $19 million project. The Santa Clara County Library will continue to operate the facility as one of its eight branches.
Librarian Rosanne Macek, who was a member of the 2006 Leadership Morgan Hill class that donated two bronze statues to the new building, said permanent artwork is rarely found in county libraries. She credited Friends of the Morgan Hill Library for setting a new precedent for community support.
"It really does set this building apart," Macek said. "As you walk in you'll see these pieces there to greet you. It will really evoke a special feeling for people who use the facility."
Asked why a small fraction of RDA money wasn't allocated to add art to a project already costing millions of dollars, Assistant City Manager Julie Spier said the city lacks a policy for funding, selecting and maintaining publicly displayed art.
The Morgan Hill Library, Culture and Arts Commission is crafting a policy to recommend to the city council on how such monies should be made available for public projects. In 2000, San Jose became one of the first cities to approve a public art ordinance requiring 2 percent of capital improvement budgets to be invested in statues and other visual enhancements.
While the RDA isn't paying for artwork, it will provide $780,000 for tables, chairs, computers and other equipment as part of the agreement to build the library.
"We're paying for all the basic stuff," Spier said, adding the county would have to pick up the tab for upgrading on-site administrative offices. "We can open up the door, but the 'Friends' are raising money for all the art pieces."
Tony Burchyns covers Morgan Hill for The Times. Reach him at (408) 779-4106 ext. 201 or tburchyns@morganhilltimes.
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